SECONDNEXUS
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President Donald Trump's administration has largely bungled its handling of the new coronavirus, which has killed 10 Americans so far and proceeds to spread through the United States.
In addition to appointing Vice President Mike Pence to lead the containment effort, forbidding journalists from videoing press briefings, lying about the availability of a vaccine, and dismissing the virus as a hoax, tests for coronavirus are suffering a massive shortage in the United States. Some fear that this is deliberate, in hopes that the number of infections will be undercounted.
Heeding calls for accountability, Trump apologized, restructured his response team, and became fully transparent in the administration's efforts to curb the virus.
Just kidding.
The President, as he often does, blamed his predecessor—former President Barack Obama—for the challenges to accessible testing.
Watch below.
Trump on coronavirus testing: "The Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to be very detri… https://t.co/dC3optnUmF— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1583340070.0
Trump told reporters:
"The Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to be very detrimental to what we're doing and we undid that decision a few days ago so that testing can take place in a much more accurate & rapid fashion."
Trump was asked to elaborate on what rule he meant, and that's when Mike Pence stepped in with a vague answer.
REPORTER: What was this Obama-era rule that you are blaming for the coronavirus testing problems? PENCE: "The last… https://t.co/aUUd67hx7P— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1583340829.0
In reality, Trump dismantled the Obama-era pandemic response team, which allowed for a streamlined testing process in the face of rapidly spreading illnesses like the coronavirus.
People weren't buying Trump's claim.
So next @realDonaldTrump will say that the virus was hidden in the DNC server that CrowdStrike hid in Ukraine, and… https://t.co/D3xEPs2rf3— George Conway (@George Conway) 1583351990.0
Trump blames his administration's failure to conduct testing for the coronavirus (less than 500 tests as of last Fr… https://t.co/MQZs1lU13l— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1583340402.0
Unbelievable. These incompetent tools are trying to blame the spread of coronavirus on President Obama. They are… https://t.co/AjLBLnfPup— Jennifer Hayden (@Jennifer Hayden) 1583340918.0
In fact, it was Trump and Bolton who eliminated the whole White House global health security unit for countering pa… https://t.co/aoymFZ1BIE— Laura Rozen (@Laura Rozen) 1583340683.0
This is just wrong. The FDA has asserted authority over LDTs since the 70s. Also...what exactly did the President c… https://t.co/B0witaxb83— Elise Ackley, DVM (@Elise Ackley, DVM) 1583353276.0
I don't care who you support politically. Like Obama, don't like him, whatever. Regardless of any of that, this sta… https://t.co/dA3lEHEeDV— Amee Vanderpool (@Amee Vanderpool) 1583353025.0
Omg!! He can’t stop lying!! https://t.co/KMociYmnuv— Waiting for Godot (@Waiting for Godot) 1583352585.0
The administration recently agreed to ease the requirements to receive a test, after widespread outcry.
Wash your hands.